870 Sights and other Upgrades

[jakk280rem]

I have an 870 Express Tactical that I have been upgrading over the years. It has a bead on pedestal front sight. I am ready to address the sights. I was fine with the simple bead when I was only using buckshot, but am finding placing slugs accurately at range dificult. I was pretty sure I wanted the glue on big dot front sight currently on the market and was wondering if anyone made a rear sight that would interface with it. And if not, how difficult would it be to modify a small rail section? I think the limiting factor would be the screw height being too tall to work with the bead. I was thinking of a simple Novak style wedge that would provide a simple trough style elevation index. Other than replacing the barrel or using a rifle style sight, does anyone make a low profile sight set for plain barrels?

I've used the peep and post style sight on a shotgun before and didn't care for them. Too slow and it seemed to subtend a lot of my sight.

My 870 is stock internal and I was wondering what all people considered must do on the inside? I was considering a larger button safety and a stainless follower. Anything must haves? Nice to haves?

This is my primary defense shotgun so I'm trying to keep it somewhat simple, low profile, and robust.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I recall a similar thread recently where someone was able to do this. I can't recall much more than that. Sorry. The advanced search may be helpful to find the info.

 

[Drail]

In my experience if you desire fine accuracy with slugs you need a fine front sight and a rear sight or at least a mid rib sight.

 

[Screwball]

If you go with a new barrel, the Remington rifle front sights are brazed on. If you do Trijicons, be very careful with the front.

I tried to get someone to swap mine locally, but nobody wanted to take the risk. I sent it to Robar, when I got it it refinished (NP3 Plus).

Some people are fans of ghost ring sights... but I'm not. I just had my Ithaca 87 (37) shortened. Had a 26" ribbed barrel with one bead, and now is 20" with two beads. Barrel work, definitely check out Rose Action Sports. Very good people, and do exceptional work. They also threaded that Ithaca barrel to take Remington chokes... and looks like it was done by the factory.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

If yours is an Express Tactical with a one piece 6 shot tube you have the only barrel made for that model. Therefore you can not put a rifle sight barrel on it and trusting anyone to put a torch on it and remove your front pedestal is dangerous, so adding rifle sights is not a good option as your front has to come off and a rifle sight front base and mid ramp would have to braised on.

If yours has a four shot tube then you should get a rifle sight barrel

 

[FL-NC]

IMO, the most important thing on any HD weapon is a light.

 

[jakk280rem]

It's an older express. The one that had a hammered grey powder coat finish. It has a factory +2 magazine extension. I didn't want to replace the barrel. $300 is a lot, unless I was willing to lose the adaptability of the rem-chokes. Even then it would be $200, just to get sights. The barrel I have now works wonders. I have it patterned to hold all 9 pellets in a 14" circle at 25yds. I'm just wondering if it were possible to modify sight base to work in conjunction with the xs big dot front sight. Or if something like that already exists.

It has a flashlight mounted. A Fenix TK11 in a L&M mount with a pressure switch on the MOE forearm.